Pages

Friday, November 20, 2009

Aurora Alderman's Priority | Dogs or Taxpayers?

Aurora's 3rd Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit continues to push to spend taxpayer funds on a dog park for Phillips Park, which she says is "badly needed."

Plans included $2,000 benches shaped like dog bones and other waste of taxdollars during a time of fiscal constraint.

9th Ward Alderman Leroy Keith, a member of Aurora's Finance committee, even promised Kifowit would get an even larger dog park than she wanted when it was sent back to committee for review.

However, some city officials and taxpayers are wondering where their priorities are.

On Thursday evening, much of the Aurora Police Department was focused on trying to find a suspect from an attempted armed robbery, but in order to assist in the search for the suspect, they needed a police dog.

With Kane County's canine unit apparently unavailable, Aurora had to seek the assistance of a police dog from another distant suburb.

Aurora Police, part of the second largest city in Illinois, shouldn't have to wait for a police dog.

So, while Kifowit and Keith push to spend taxpayer funds on a dog park, the Aurora Police don't have their own dog for crime-fighting purposes.

Seems the priorities are backwards. What would you prefer and is more badly needed? Having your taxdollars fight crime or provide a playground for Kifowit's dog?

29 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Who says it has to be either/or? Both a dog park and police canine unit are badly needed. The dog park will serve thousands of citizens, providing both pets & people with a place to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. And a police dog would be very useful for drug enforcement, etc.

A police dog will not serve thousands of citizens. A 120 million police station ? C,mon guys get real. We don't serve you, you serve us. You're already overpaid and have an overtime candy store at your behest. You guys are spoiled and protected. The crime in this City is terrible.

Police dogs are worthless in Aurora. Union contract controls when they can and can't work. They don't work weekends when needed and they do not work nights so buy the dog park, it is better use of your money.

Wait a minute. Didn't we just layoff 36 city employees and are scheduled to lay of another 8. Why, because we are broke in these hard economic times. Now they want to turn around and start spending the money they are saving for a dog park or police dog? Have we gone totally insane?

AURORA -- With the national economy continuing to struggle, foreclosures have been on the rise as people find it more difficult to pay their monthly mortgage bills. It's an epidemic that has even affected Aurora city government's top attorney, Alayne Weingartz.

BAC Home Loans Servicing, formerly known as Countrywide Home Loans, has filed a complaint in Kane County Circuit Court, asking to foreclose on a West Side home owned by Weingartz and her husband. According to the complaint, the mortgage has not been paid on the home since March.

The total owed on the home is more than $325,000, plus interest and fees, according to court documents.

"Unfortunately, and like so many people in our area and across the country, my family has been affected by the harsh economic realities of this recession," Weingartz said in a written statement. "Due to various factors, my family experienced temporary financial difficulties which led to this situation.

"These factors have been rectified," she continued. "We are proceeding with an agreement and look forward to this situation being cleared in the near future."

Both Weingartz and Assistant Chief of Staff Carie Anne Ergo said the foreclosure will have no impact on Weingartz's role with the city.

As Aurora corporation counsel, Weingartz represents the city in court, offers legal advice and crafts ordinances for aldermen on city committees, and serves as the city's prosecutor in housing court, enforcing building and property code violations.

Yes, the police dogs are very expensive and not terribly cost-effective. However, they do provide a few lucky Officers with an on the job pet, who needs to be petted who needs to play fetch. With their huge pension plan and over budget police station, what's a few more dollars for an on the job pet.

Aurora has a problem. A police department that keeps on asking for more and more. The citizens here aren't getting much for the enormous amount of money that are taken from them. What's next ? A request for a Police helicopter, to go along with 120 million Taj Mahal ? Perhaps, even a request for an increase in the Pension Plan ? Give me, give me, give me, because I'm entitled. Has John Dobran ever read a book on how to conduct a missing person's investigation ? I'm sorry but you folks are out of touch with reality.

Getting a Police Dog can fairly inexpensive. Outside donations can be made/solicited for the cost of buying/training. Vet and food's can be donated/comped.Ask the last two Police Chief's why we don't have a dog---they don't want one. They say to borrow one from neighboring towns/cities. How sad for the 2nd largest drug/gang city in IL.We don't need anything fancy for a dog park, just have one like on the West side. But, I would like to see some fenced in land for us to use. You have to buy a tag to use the dog park, so it is collecting fees for use.To the imbeciles that run this blog--is Kifowit to blame for world hunger, war and everything else you can think of. What do the other Aldermen do? Seem's like nothing, you never hear about them. You just seem to have a "gender" problem with Kifowit, because she speaks up and doesn't necessarily agree with you--DUH!News for you--YOU ARE NOT GOD AND ALWAYS RIGHT!!!